Hugh Donald Winnell

Hugh was preceded in death by his father and mother, Alex and Mabel Winnell; brother, Charles Winnell; first wife, Vera Jean (Grossman); and second wife, Marjorie (Potts).

He is survived by five children Michael and Catherine (Giles) Winnell of Petoskey; Julie (Winnell) and William Magoon of Green Bay, Wis.; Karen (Potts) and Stephen Andrews of Levering; Dana and Julie Potts of Chicago, Ill; and Laura (Potts) and Ernest Richards of Pipe Creek, Texas, and proud grandfather of 12 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

I am writing my own obituary to family, friends, and residents of Petoskey.

I opened my eyes on Jan. 22, 1924, in the double house located at 1040 Emmet St. next to Greenwell's Machine Shop in Petoskey. I include the Greenwell family name in my obituary because Don and I spent my first 11 years as "Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer." The Bear River was our big attraction for fish, pollywogs/tadpoles, frogs, blue racer and water snakes. We would go over to Lee VanDeree or Rocky Thompson's grocery store for a hunk of liver, tie it to a string, and then go to the bottom steps of Mineral Well Park dam where we would lower the liver into the water. In no time at all we would have 4 or 5 dozen crawfish to sell to people fishing off the breakwater or the Petoskey Street dock. Our lives were full of Huck Finn adventures.

In 1935 my parents purchased the 10-acre fruit orchard and tree farm located at the corner of Jennings and Kalamazoo avenues, which was big enough to accommodate cows, pigs, chickens, turkeys, and dogs. However, it was too small for a tractor so that all work had to be done with hand tools, except in the spring when my dad would hire a local farmer who had a team of horses to plow, drag, and seed the fields. Handwork on a small farm required that you start at 5 a.m. and quit when the lack of daylight said quit. My carefree "Tom Sawyer" days were over when we started farming. Neighbors were always willing to help anyone in need such as repairing broken equipment. Life was slow during the Depression of 1930s, but everyone seemed to have time to be good neighbors.

The radio and newspaper were the main sources of news outside Petoskey, newspaper first and radio only at night since there was very poor radio reception during the day. The news about Pearl Harbor arrived at night via our "Gruno" radio and propelled me into military service for the next 4 years following my graduation from Petoskey High School in 1942.

My athletic ability allowed me to have the rare experience of flying a 2000 horsepower, 400 miles per hour military fighting aircraft during the Pacific campaign. Violence was the name of the game, kill or be killed, follow orders, team player, friendships that endure to this day, and those remembered who fell out of the sky. The atomic bomb ended the war as quickly as Pearl Harbor had started it for most of us.

Since joining the military I had tasted Montana, California, Kansas, Texas, Florida, Hawaii, Pacific South Sea Islands, Philippines, Okinawa, and the State of Washington ... but Petoskey was home. I am a "people oriented" person and enjoyed working with people, and since my dad owned the Palace Barber Shop in Petoskey, I decided to become a barber. Some folks might say I set my sights too low, but after a lifetime of 88 years I still feel my decision was the right one.

Petoskey, you helped me be who I am. You gave me two wives who were a wonderful influence for everything good in my life and who also blessed me with five children of whom I am extremely proud. You helped me raise these young people in a Christian way with core values. You paid my bills for 25 years as a barber and 35 years as a life insurance agent. Now I give back to you, my Petoskey family, some of my family to carry on that warm wholesome friendship that bonds a person to the best of the best places to live, work, and experience the joy of being part of a community. The roots go deep, and each new family line makes us that much richer as they add to our tapestry of lives well lived.

My church, with its truth that we are indeed spiritual beings which has been proven to me over and over again, took the place of the violence I experienced during the war years. Never once have I questioned why I am here to live in this most wondrous of places. I have praised my God that I have been blessed to labor here in this part of His vineyard; the lakes and streams, the seasons, the people -- Petoskey, we have it all!

I have participated beyond family, work, and church by being asked to serve on the Zoning Board in Petoskey (zoning was not so popular in the beginning). I served six years on the Petoskey School Board, the last three years as president. I also served nine years as the first treasurer of the Petoskey Education Foundation. Over this time period, I was a member of Kiwanis for 40 years. Education and Christian values were high priorities for me and those with whom I served. Others serve our city and area in a variety of fields but always with the highest moral standard and to the best of their ability to serve instead of assuming power.

I now lay down the reins of my life for you to build an even better Petoskey. Experience the joy of being a Good Samaritan to those who are in need of a helping hand. Accept responsibility for guiding and shaping our young people through education and Christian living by way of school, church, and local government. Live boldly and well. Wear out instead of rusting out, and may God continue to bless our Petoskey vineyard.

Friends and family wishing to remember Hugh with a charitable donation are asked to consider The First Christian Church of Petoskey, 308 Monroe St., Petoskey Mich. 49770, for promoting high moral values of Christian faith, The Kiwanis Club of Petoskey to sponsor campers at Camp Daggett, and the Marine Corps League Toys for Tots program.

Friends are welcome to visit with Hugh's family from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 29, at the First Christian Church in Petoskey, 308 Monroe St., Petoskey. A memorial service celebrating Hugh's life will be held at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 30, also at the First Christian Church of Petoskey. At 5 p.m. friends are also welcome to attend a celebration dinner which will be held at the Knights of Columbus Hall on Charlevoix Avenue in Petoskey.

Friends and family are also welcome to offer condolences or share memories of Hugh online at www.stonefuneralhomeinc.com.